Slam dunk: In-form sides get chance to show their mettle

By PETER JESSUP

The Hawkes Bay Hawks-Auckland Stars game on Friday night will show both sides their chances of progressing in the playoffs. Both are in form, relatively injury-free and equal at the top of the NBL table.

Hawkes Bay have farewelled American import Morgan Bell mid-week and replaced him with Scott McGregor from the West Sydney Razorbacks to boost their defence.

McGregor was due to arrive late yesterday and will play both games in Auckland, against the Stars at ASB Stadium tomorrow and the Harbour Heat at the North Shore Events Centre on Saturday.

McGregor, 28, is 2.02m and 107kg, and was 1996 rookie of the year, making the Boomers for the 2001 Goodwill Games. But he is a forward, Bell was a centre/forward, leaving the team without a specialist centre to back up Chris Pollard.

Coach Shawn Dennis knows McGregor from the 1996-97 season when both were at Newcastle. After watching his team repeatedly beaten in the paint, Dennis decided to dump Bell for the tougher defender.

"It became increasingly evident as we played the top teams that they could see we were weak inside and were exploiting that," he said.

The Aussie coach is negotiating to stay for another season. The Hawks have this week re-signed Tall Black point guard Paul Henare for 2005, with forward Adrian Majstrovich already committed, stability Dennis likes.

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Auckland coach Kenny Stone has no injury worries as his side prepares to host the Hawks at the ASB Stadium tomorrow night, though forward Casey Frank has missed trainings with a flu virus.

Stone likes playing four top teams in the run-up to the finals - the Wellington Saints, Waikato Titans and Nelson Giants their last games. He'd rather lose to them than one below the Stars. "You don't want to lose to those you shouldn't."

Auckland was beaten 92-74 away to Hawkes Bay. Stone sees Hawks sharp-shooter Adrian Majstrovich as the key player to contain.

Harbour coach Ollie Bryce has injury worries ahead of the Heat-Hawks game at the North Shore Events Centre on Saturday. Centre Axel Dench and guard Judd Flavell both have calf strains. If both can't play that would kill their chances.

Bryce has faced the Hawks away for an 83-88 loss plus the Titans, Manawatu Jets and resurgent Taranaki Mountain Airs since taking over and is still looking for the close-outs that bring wins.

Bryce wants to keep the coaching job but knows he'll be under pressure. But the franchise will have to decide as the season ends because it will want to open negotiations with players.

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The Titans have lost import Geordie Cullen for the season, after he rolled his ankle during last weekend's game against Taranaki, and Mason Le Pou, with a broken bone in his wrist.

Cullen tore ligaments and is in a cast. He will return to Australia in two weeks after further treatment here and the Titans are already looking for a replacement, although resigned to the fact they won't get a centre.

All those are signed or in the Boomers camp. The franchise will look at bringing in an Aussie power forward.

Wellington will carry three imports for the remainder of the season and decide on game-day which they'll use.

Ben Knight's commitment with the Boomers has prompted the search for another scoring forward and rumour has it that man is 2.01m Cairns Taipans forward Marcus Timmons, 32, an American playing in Australia since 1996 at Melbourne, Perth then Cairns.

Knight is still in the mix with guard Adam Caporn. It's hoped the new signing will be in Wellington to play Waikato on Sunday.

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The 10 NBL franchises will meet Basketball New Zealand representatives in Wellington today to discuss a new five-year plan, with all the existing licences due to expire at the end of this season.

The meeting will set a framework for the league and discuss regulations and issues ranging from timing and length of season to import allowances and broadcasting.

BBNZ is believed to be committed to a 10-team competition.

Sitting on the sideline are the Breakers, keen to push on with an association with the defunct Waitakere team. Waitakere's re-entry to the league may be dependent on one of the other franchises folding.

Taranaki is healthier after good performances on court brought financial backing.

Otago is the side struggling most, on and off-court.